Silk Creek Portal

An online portal to Silk Creek Review and a place to post your nature poetry, prose, photos, art, comments and conversation about Silk Creek, Silk Creek retreats and Silk Creek Review. A place to discuss environmental issues. This is not a vehicle for submission to Silk Creek Review.

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

I almost walked right in to that web as I wanted to get a closer look at some lilies and why they weren't blooming. That spider was about thigh high while the tops of the goldenrods were nearly chest high so she wasn't really visible. I had to hold the goldenrods to one side while dipping the camera down and close to the spider. It took 3 trys but there you have it. I had an opportunity to watch a different kind of spider spin its web after dark (with the outside overhead light on). I watched it through a magnifying glass and could see it secrete the sticky beads as it tied the strands together with its hind legs. By the time it was finished, the total diameter of the web was a good 12 inches. A moth came by and tore out a large hole and the spider came out when it was safe to mend the damage. I will always remember watching a spider in action during a windy storm. A wind driven falling leaf came into a web on the porch and like a sail, was literally capturing the wind and tugging hard at the primary anchor lines of the web. The spider came out amid the commotion and released the leaf by removing web strands one by one from the wildly moving leaf until the leaf flew away. It was a remarkable thing to watch.

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

When I arrived at Clam Beach Dec. 30, I saw a short shaft of color stretch out into a beautiful full rainbow, arching between the ocean and the land. It seemed symbolic of my hope for a good new year for all.

Saturday, November 05, 2011

I went to visit my friends in Tennessee again. It was so great to get away from the Texas heat and drought. The fall color was amazing. Every morning I awoke to the amber hues of the Maples outside my window. They own about 100 acres in the Appalachian Mountains. The second photo is a view of the mountains from their house. I spent the days relaxing and hiking around their property, and found plenty of wonderful things to photograph. I've posted more pics here at Metamorphosing.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Saturday, October 01, 2011

Pileated Pair, from photos by Scott Carter out the window of his spare room at Silk Creek. Watercolor, by me, Mary Taitt, in Ballookey's Mole. Click image to view larger. The male pileated is perched on the outside of the house, threatening his own reflection, which he takes as another male. Click image to view larger. 5 x 8. Haven't had time to do much blogging because of our two floods. :-(

Supernatural!

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